Piston-ring-testing machine



E- F. ULRICH.

PISTON RING TESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1920.

L11; 9 49 Patented June 13, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

E. F. ULRICH.

PISTON RING TESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1920.

l 1 9,4938 Patented June 313, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNHTEID) STATES FATENT @FFHCCE.

EDWARD F. ULRICH, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OE

TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. v

PISTON-RING-TESTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 113, 192%.

Application filed. February 18, 1920. Serial No. 359,658.

To (ZZZ- whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD F. ULRICH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at motors it is necessaryforgas tightness and proper lubrication that all the piston rings used inthe same cylinder engage the cylinder walls with approximately the sameexpansive force,'and it is desirable for proper balance of the enginethat the frictional resistance in each cylinder be the same and that theforce with which the rings press against the cylinder Walls be not sovgreat as to cause excessive friction or prevent proper lubrication, butat the same time great enough to prevent leakage.

The principal object of this invent on is the provision of a simple andcompa-ratiyely inexpensivedei ice 'by means of which rmgs may beexpeditiously tested. 7

Another object is the provision of a device adapted for use in testingrings of any size. Still another object is the provision of a device inwhich the expanslbility of the ring is measured against the reaction ofa spring.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawingsillustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and in which similarreference numerals designate -similar parts throughout the several viewsIn" the drawings d Figure 1 is aiplan'view ofione form of the deviceshowing a piston ring compressed therein; I

Figure 2 is a-pla'n view thereof with the handles spread to better showthe construction;

Figure 3 is an edge View taken from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan of a removable ringa specificasure indicator, a

In airplane and automobile receiving band forming an element of myinvention;

I Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectlonal view taken substantiallyon the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view of. an indicator forming a part ofone form of the instrument; s Figure 7 is a plan view of another form ofthe device;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of the prespart of the dial being brokenaway; and

Figure 9 is a fragment of still another form of the device.

The testing machine in the illustrative embodiments shown is portable,but one of its sides may obviously be arranged to be secured to a benchor other structure so that the device is supported in a flat, upright orother convenient osition. I

Referring particu arly to Figures 1 to 5, a pair of arms 1 and 2 arepivotally connected at their ends by meansof a pintle 3 and providedwith handles 4 and 5. The arm 1 near its pivoted end is expanded into asubstantially plate-like portion 6, and 'a hand 7 is pivoted upon thearm 1 to swing over a suitably graduated are 8 on the plate-like portion6.

The arm 2 has an arcuate portion 9 adjacent its pivoted end whichoverlies a rabbet 10 in the plate-like portion 6 of the arm 1 when thearms are brought together. Adjacent its arcuate portion the arm 2 isprovided with anabutment screw 11 adapted to engage the hand 7' andswing it over the are 8 when the arms are brought together, a lightspring 12 serving to return the arm to the position shown in Figure 2when the arms are separated.

Attached to the arm 1 is an indicator 13 comprising a dial 14: and an.indicating hand losuitably connected by means of a rack 16 and pinion 17to a longitudinally-movable rod 18 which is adapted to be forced intothe casing of the indicator 13 against the tension of a spring 19.

Pins 20 and 21 are fixed respectively to the rod 18 and arm 2, and overthese pins are slipped the looped ends of a flexible metallic band 22.The band 22 is adapted to surround the piston ring 23, and ma befurnished in several lengths so that plston rings to fit cylinders ofany ordinary size may be tested by selecting an appropriate band.

In order that the ring may be supported out of contact with the arms 1and 2 and the hand 7, and in order that friction may.

be reduced to a minimum, a series of inwardly-projecting pins 24 arefixed to the fit, for example, a 3 in. cylinder, an appropriate band isslipped upon the pins 20 and 21, the abutment screw 11 1s ad usted tobring the hand 7 to the 3 in. graduat on, when a master ring of properdimensions and stiffness is compressed by the band to a diameter of 3ins, and the screw 25 is then turned into engagement with the arm 1. Theexpansive force exerted by the mug and 1ndicated on the dial is noted.Each ring to be tested is then placed in the band and the arms arepressed toward each other until the screw 25 engages the arm 1 and thehand 7 stands at the 3 in. mark. Rings that are so stiff or so largethat they would exert excessive pressure on the cylinder walls W111 notbe compressed to the same extent as was the master ring and the rod 18will be forced further into the indicator casing, thus causing the hand15 to indicate a greater value on the dial 14. If the ring is too smallor too flexible as compared with the master ring, it will be compressedfurther than the master ring and a lesser value will be indicated on thedial 141.

The form of device shown in Figures 7 and 8 comprises a pair of arms 1and 2 pivoted together as at 3 and rovided with handles 4* and 5 adaptedto egrasped by the operator. The arm 1 is provided near its pivoted endwith a plate-like portion 6 and apivoted hand 7 moving over a graduatedare 8. The arm2 is provided with an arcuate portion 9 and an abutmentscrew 11*, these parts being similar in structure and function to thecorresponding parts of the form first described. An indicator 13 havinga graduated dial 14 and an indicating hand 15' is mounted upon the arm1*. The indicator hand is ,moved by means of a rack 1 6 and pinion 17*,the rack being carried by a rod 18 adapted to be drawn outwardly of theindicator 13 against the tension of the spring 19.

Pins 20 and 21* are fixed to the arms 1 and 2 and the looped ends of theflexible metallic band 22 are slipped over these pins. The band 22 isadapted to surround and compress a piston ring 23, and in order that thering may be supported out of engagement with the hand 7, a series ofinwardlyprojecting pins 2 1- is fixed to the band.

An abutment screw 25 is threaded through the arm 2 and may be adjustedto limit the movement of the arms toward each other. This form differsfrom the one previously described in that the arm 1 is hinged, as at 30the portion thereof carrying the pin 20 belng connected to theindicator, and the portion thereof carrying the handle being connectedto the rod 18.

In using this form of the device for testing 3 in. rings, for example,the proper band 22 is slipped upon the pins 20 and 21 and the screw 11is adjusted so that when any ring placed in the device is compressed toa diameter of 3 ins. the hand 7 a will indicate the graduation numbered3 on the arc 8 The distortion of the spring 19 and the movement of thehand 15 are proportional to the amount of force required to bring thering to this diameter, which is equal to the expansive force exerted bythe ring when so compressed. In using this form of the device the ringis always compressed to the diameter of the cylinder in which it isintended to be used.

The device shown in Figure 9 differs from that shown in Figure 7 only inthat the indicator hand 7 a and are 8 are omitted. The screw 25 isadjusted to engage the arm l when the ring is compressed to size. Theindicator gage in this form must be read when the screw 25 is lightlyengaged with the arm 1".

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of myinvention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill theobjects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention issusceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit andscope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, means forengaging and compressing a piston ring, comprising a pair of membersmovable toward each other to compress such ring, and resilient meansmounted upon one of said members adapted to be distorted by theexpansive force of such ring.

2. In a device of the class described, in I combination, a pair ofrelatively movable moved toward each other, an index connected to one ofsaid members, a spring connected to the said index, and means forflexing said spring according to the expansive force exerted by suchpiston ring.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pair ofrelatively movable members, means operated by said members forcompressing a piston ring, one of said members being jointed, a springconnected to the respective parts of said jointed member, and means forindicating the extent of distortion of said spring.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, three relativelymovable parts, means connected to two of said parts for compressing apiston ring, connections between one of said two parts and the thirdpart, including a spring, and means for indicating the relative positionof the springconnected parts. I

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, three relativelymovable parts, means connected to two ofsaid parts for compressing apiston ring, means for indicating the relative positions of said twoparts, connections between one of said two parts and the thlrd part,including a spring,

and means for indicating the relative position of the spring-connectedparts.

ing, in combination, three parts hinged together, means connected to twoof said parts for compressing a piston ring, connections between one ofsaid two parts and the third part, including a spring, and means forindicating the relative position of the springconnected parts.

7. A device of the class described comprising a pair of handles pivotedto each other, means for compressin a ring between said handles to anydesire diameter, and means mounted on one of said handles for indicatingthe expansive force of said ring.

8. A device-of the class described comprising a pair of handles pivotedto each other, means for compressing a ring between said handles to anydesired diameter, and means mounted on one of said handles for measuringand indicating the expansive force of said ring.

EDWARD F. ULRICH.

Witnesses:

C. E. Wmoox, C. O. MARSHALL.

a 6. A device of the class described compris

